Insulet's OmniPod(R) Personal Diabetes Manager to Integrate DexCom Continuous Glucose Monitoring Technology

Insulet and Dexcom just announced a development agreement to integrate Dexcom's continuous glucose meter into the OmniPod. As described in their press release...

" ...today they have signed a development agreement to integrate DexCom's continuous glucose monitoring technology into the wireless, handheld OmniPod System Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM). In addition to programming the patient's insulin delivery, the PDM with integrated DexCom technology will receive and display continuous glucose readings from DexCom's wearable sensor transmitter. Patients using the integrated system will have access to real-time glucose values and trended glucose information, as well as alarms to warn patients if glucose levels are rising or falling...

...Development, clinical and regulatory efforts are expected to continue throughout 2008, with an anticipated product launch in mid-2009.

The PDM with integrated DexCom technology will broaden Insulet Corporation's portfolio of diabetes management products. The development agreement between Insulet and DexCom also contemplates further work by Insulet and DexCom towards development of a closed-loop system.

The agreement is non-exclusive and does not impact any of Insulet's existing third party development agreements."

Looking for Volunteers in a Market Research Study

UPDATE: The marketing research company has completed their research and they do not need any more volunteers. Thanks to all those who volunteered.

I was just contacted by a pharmaceutical marketing research company that is looking for 3 or 4 patients that have been recently diagnosed (within the past year) with diabetes and have started on the OmniPod Insulin Management System. Interviews last about 30 minutes and each patient will receive a $125 check for their time. If you qualify and are interested, send me an email (ouromnipod@gmail.com) with your contact information and I will forward it on to the research company.

Microwaves and Static Electricity

Lizzy731 started a thread on Children with Diabetes (click here for the thread) where she shares her experience that the PDM lost the communication link to the OmniPod. She was administering a bolus while standing very close to a microwave oven in use. She called customer service and they helped isolate the microwave as the most possible cause. After changing the pod, everything was OK.

Another user shared an experience that static electricity can also be a potential cause of failure. They shared the experience that their child was sliding with the pod located on the child's backside when it stopped working. Lots of static electricity on slides!

FAQs-How much does the OmniPod cost?

The answer is located on the official OmniPod FAQ website.

FAQs-Is the OmniPod available in my area?

Go to this link on the OmniPod website to find out if the OmniPod is available in your area.

FAQs-Can I download data from the OmniPod?

The PDM (Personal Diabetes Manager) has an IR (infrared port) that can be used to download data. Comments in other forums report that the software can be obtained by contacting Insulet directly.

FAQs-General

As I browse the diabetes blogs and forums and read the comments, there seems to be a lot of people asking the same questions about the OmniPod. Many of the answers to the questions can be found in the FAQs on the official OmniPod website. If you don't see the answer to your question there, just post a comment here or at the OmniPod group on tudiabetes.com.

As new questions are asked, look for the answer on this site. Just click on the FAQs label/tag to find the answers.

Or checkout the FAQs written by another OmniPod user on DiabetesMine.com.